Police confirm baby found on Sydney beach was a girl

Police have confirmed the baby found buried in the sand at the south end of Sydney’s Maroubra beach yesterday was a girl.

An autopsy is underway and detectives are widening their search for the baby’s parents.

The community is still trying to come to terms with the tragic discovery.

“The welfare of the mother, the health of the mother, not only to those close to the mother, but I think the whole community wants to see her looked after,” Detective Superintendent Gavin Dengate said.

Detectives and police dogs were back at South Maroubra beach this morning scouring the site where two boys aged six and seven found the infant buried in around 30cm of sand.

Randwick mayor Ted Seng described the community's shock following the discovery of a baby's body yesterday. (9NEWS) ()

“The community is in shock - things like this don't happen,” Randwick mayor Ted Seng said.

Local Councillor Brendan Roberts was at the beach yesterday with his own son playing in the dunes with his mates just moments before the discovery.

There are no houses overlooking the dunes and no security cameras close by which means police are reliant on the results of the post-mortem.

“The baby having decomposed causes issues for the post-mortem but also causes issues for our inquiries,” Supt Dengate said.

Both the young boys are being counselled by specialist police and the local surf club.

Last week, cyclists discovered an abandoned baby in a western Sydney drain last weekend which has renewed calls for baby hatches at hospitals.

The system, which is in use in various European countries, triggers an alert for hospital staff when unwanted babies are left in the windows and is intended as a safe way for troubled parents to relinquish care of newborns.

"I definitely think we need to decriminalise a woman being able to anonymously leave a baby behind," columnist Sarrah Le Marquand said on TODAY this morning.

Anyone with information on the find is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Should we introduce 'baby hatches' for desperate mothers in Australia?

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A baby hatch at a hospital in Germany where women can leave their unwanted newborns and know they will get immediate care. (Getty) ((Getty))